Kansas City, MO, January 2017 – The Hospital Hill Run Foundation is pleased to announce it will present a $25,000 grant to Kansas City’s Police Athletic League (PAL) as part of the 2017 Hospital Hill Run event and celebration. KC PAL, an organization focused on creating opportunities for youth to interact with police officers in a positive setting while participating in cultural, mentoring and sports programs, will use the funds to help complete the renovation of the locker room and showers at their main facility.

Over the past 20 years, PAL has grown from a part-time assignment, to its own, full-time unit within the police department with several full-time, dedicated police officers who serve as coaches, mentors and often friends. For several years, PAL and its board of directors have been working with Kansas City’s business community to secure support to renovate the organizations primary facility at 1801 White Avenue in Kansas City. From adding football and baseball fields to replacing the new gym floor, the emphasis has been on creating a safe, fun and nurturing environment where kids can participate in sports, meet up with friends and get a hot meal when needed. One of the most critically important aspects of PALs programming and facility is providing access to regular, everyday amenities and services these kids may not have otherwise.

Read More...

“We are thankful to the HHR Foundation for making it possible for us to update our showers,” said Sgt. Skip Cox, PAL supervisor. “We can all take the simplest things for granted at times. As we looked across all of the repairs, we realized how important it is to be able to take a shower in private. It is huge for our kids, and for some, it is an amenity they may not have otherwise.”

“We are so impressed with the work of PAL and are thrilled to support them as the beneficiary of our 2017 grant,” said Hospital Hill Run President, Mike Walden. “Its mission, and the positive impact it has on children and Kansas City as a whole, aligns perfectly with our mission to promote and support active and healthy lifestyles in the community. Having the opportunity to be part of teams and to participate in sports improves children’s self-esteem and creates a positive change in the way they think about their future. PAL is doing that, and we want to support its great work.”

What began in 1974 with 99 athletes paying a $1.00 registration fee to run a 6.8-mile course starting and ending in Crown Center has evolved into an event that regularly hosts upwards of 7,000 athletes over two days and three different event distances. The 2017 event will be the 44th annual race; a race Runner’s World magazine has touted as one of the top 25 road races in the United States, taking place on Friday and Saturday, June 2 – 3, 2017. The event includes three distances, the UMKC School of Medicine 5K on Friday night, followed by a 10K and a half marathon on Saturday morning. Those who wish to challenge themselves further can compete in both the 5K on Friday night and either the 10K or half marathon on Saturday, called the Hospital Hill Run Re-RUN. All events begin and end on Grand Boulevard directly in front of Crown Center. Also included in the weekend is a two-day health and fitness expo taking place at the Crown Center Exhibit Hall, a Pasta Party at Milano, and two post-race parties open to all.